What happens in the field when you need to loosen a union to service a valve?  Do you always need to replace the sealing elements?  How can the Posi-Stop™ embedded O-ring union system help?  Which products are shipping now with Posi-Stop?   Former service plumber and current Caleffi tech. support ace Matt DeLuca joins the guys today to talk about Posi-Stop as a first-time guest on the podcast.  There are many tips and tricks that plumbers use in the field to get fittings to seal.  No need for...

In this episode, Greg and Dan talk to "the man, the myth, the legend" of zone valves, Mike Schreiner, Caleffi CTO.   Mike has been working with zone valves for his entire career and is pleased to share his wealth of knowledge to help our Ask Caleffi audience learn: What's important when considering a zone valve?  How do you properly size?  What is the flow coefficient (a.k.a. Cv or differential pressure) and why is it important?  BTW:  there is a BIG difference between close-off pressure and...

What drives the adoption of solar hot water systems?  Are there specific factors that signal the beginning or end of a spike in system installations?  Which applications are always a good fit?  What qualifications do you need to work on these systems?  How do you evaluate a site to know if the location is good for solar? In this episode, Greg and Dan are joined by Carlson-Holohan Industry Award of Excellence winning Caleffi Training Manager Bob Rohr.  Over his career, Bob has been all over...

Why should installers care about BIM (building information models)?  Could BIM help you avoid working around other trades in a crowded chase?  What efficiency gains are there with prefabrication? Can the files detect errors, before the product is even purchased? What is a digital twin? In this episode, the guys are talking to Woody Dickinson.  Woody knows Caleffi's technical details like the back of his hand.  With BIM, he is able to take a career's worth of engineering knowledge and...

Do I leave the air vent cap open or close it?  Do you leave the AutoFill(TM) open or closed?  Where should you put the expansion tank?  Do you pump into the boiler or pump out of it?  Hydro separator or closely spaced tees?  Where should you put the air separator?      In this episode, the guys have put together a few of the trickiest topics that come up often on the tech. support lines.  The questions are simple, the answers are more complex.  Dan and Greg will help put the questions into...

What has Steve Steve learned about the plumbing and heating industry since 1990?  What happens at the MCE Mostra Convengo trade show in Italy? What part of the Caleffi factory reminded Steve of Raiders of the Lost Ark? How do you, "automate for the best?"  What was Steve's favorite meal? Why has nobody interviewed this guy before?   In this episode, Dan and Greg sit with Steve Smith to hear more about his recent trip to Italy to visit the Caleffi factory and visit Mostra.  He details some...

How does Caleffi support a rapidly growing plumbing product offering?  What makes a great troubleshooter?  How do you train an apprentice in the first place?  Where is the best place to work if you are a Brewers fan and also a journeyman plumber?      In this episode, the guys introduce the newest member of the Ask Caleffi team. Straight from the field, Matt DeLuca is a Journeyman plumber and expert troubleshooter. He talks to Dan and Greg about his background in the trades, starting in...

Where does the water come from?  How do you know what pressure you need in a building? Are you over 80PSI?  Are mountain states the only ones who have big fluxuations in municipal water supply pressures?  What is a "noisy little guy?" In this episode, the guys are throwing paper airplanes and talking about pressure reducing valves.  Our PresCal is sold all over the world, so we have seen some crazy applications.  Dan, Greg, and Cody discuss what pressures you should shoot for when adjusting...

How do you fill a radiant system with the least amount of headache, in order to get the air out?  Should you flush through the boiler side?  What takes the least amount of time? When is a fill cart helpful?  Is street pressure water enough to properly purge? In this episode, the guys share their field experience filling manifolds.  Just like toppings on a hot dog, there is no one specific way to do it that everyone will agree on.  Dan and Greg go over the hows and whys for the different...

DHW recirculation systems can cause a lot of headaches, if not operating properly.  Quick troubleshooting is essential, especially in the multi-family sector.  How do you know what needs to be fixed?  What questions do you need to ask occupants and building managers?  Are all shower valves the same? Do you need x-ray vision?   In this two-part episode, the guys interview Mark Eatheton.  Mark is a licensed Master Plumber in Colorado and an ICC licensed Master Mechanical Contractor.  He has...

DHW recirculation systems can cause a lot of headaches, if not operating properly.  Quick troubleshooting is essential, especially in the multi-family sector.  How do you know what needs to be fixed?  What questions do you need to ask occupants and building managers?  Are all shower valves the same? Do you need x-ray vision?   In this two-part episode, the guys interview Mark Eatheton.  Mark is a licensed Master Plumber in Colorado and an ICC licensed Master Mechanical Contractor.  He has...

An expansion tank is a very simple hydronic system component, yet it can cause complex troubleshooting woes.  Improper charge expectations, waterlogging and sizing can all play a role.  How can you determine if the expansion tank is the culprit for nuisance relief valve discharges?  In this episode, Cody Mack tells you how to whisper to an expansion tank in this service-focused conversation between three former field techs.  Should you trust a factory precharge?  How do you avoid...

There are a lot of boxes to check to install and maintain an ideal DHW system.  Don't worry!  The guys can walk you through it.  How do you verify a DHW system has been balanced properly?  Which circulators pair best with thermal balancing valves?  How do you find out if you are meeting your minimum flow rate for a point of distribution mixing valve? In this Episode, Greg breaks down the components needed to operate the perfect DHW system.  Pipe size, recirculation pumps, balancing valves,...

Pioneering high-performance magnetic separation, Caleffi North America has recently introduced DIRTMAG PRO.  Do you know what's new about this device?  Why is it essential to remove BOTH ferrous and non-ferrous debris from your hydronic system? Greg and Dan discuss the technology behind this device, where it's located in a system and what's the difference between a DISCAL air and dirt separator and DIRTMAG PRO.   Need help sizing the PRO?  We're are here to help you at...

Heating season is here!  Don't panic.  Dan and Greg shine a light on the components that keep your boiler running well.  A clean and check should include more than a speedy look at the heat exchanger.  How important is communication with the homeowner?  How do you set expectations for future repairs?  What components can be cleaned or repaired easily?  Who do I call for help?  The guys answer these questions and more.  Want to hear YOUR QUESTION on Ask Caleffi?  Take this quick 4 question...

John 'Siggy' Seigenthaler guest stars on an episode dedicated to all things heat exchange.  How do you know which type of heat exchanger is best for your application?  How do you keep them clean and operating efficiently?  What is a convection coefficient?  Why is turbulence important?  Siggy answers these questions and more for hydronic and domestic hot water system. Want to hear YOUR QUESTION on Ask Caleffi?  Take this quick 4 question survey for your chance to hear your question in a...

Our Ask Caleffi team phones a friend to talk about PEX connections and manifolds.  Where do you locate a manifold?  Which fitting systems work with which types of PEX?  What is the difference between plumbing PEX and heating PEX?   Want to hear YOUR QUESTION on Ask Caleffi?  Take this quick 4 question survey for your chance to hear your question in a future episode. Survey: https://forms.gle/fRfnU8Px3B1Lq7K69

Our Ask Caleffi team encourages you to think outside of the box on that next service call.  They share tips that work at getting YOU to the root of a service problem without wasting time and money.  They share their favorite technique:  "Phone a Friend" and why it's so important.  You'd be surprised at how much WE learn from YOU while walking through a service concern.   Want to hear YOUR QUESTION on Ask Caleffi?  Take this quick 4 question survey for your chance to hear your question in a...

Max Rohr, "a long-time listener and first-time caller," joins Greg and Dan during this Episode of the Ask Caleffi podcast.  Max shares his well-earned experience with radiant heating and cooling systems, placing a magnifying glass on PEX.  He discusses radiant heat sources, the benefits and versatility of these systems, and then dives into PEX variants.  Greg and Dan chime in to talk about maintenance, system protection, and tips.   Want to hear YOUR QUESTION on Ask Caleffi?  Take this quick...

Energy metering.  Is that EASILY accomplished?  Are there well suited applications for metering AND can a building owner be confident about energy consumption?  (YES!)  Greg and Dan, our Ask Caleffi gurus, talk about energy metering during this episode of the podcast.  They talk Modbus-to-BACnet (say what??) and what applications are perfect for calculating BTUs in a specific space.  Interested in a real-life example?  No problem!  Dan digs into an actual case study of successful tracking of...

Straight from the Ask Caleffi Podcast studio, Greg and Dan dive into boiler protection.  Let's face it when high-temperature, mid-efficient boilers condense... it's a mess!  How can that be prevented?  Greg and Dan talk about solutions, including a "Swiss Army Knife" approach.  They discuss how the ThermoProtec thermostatic mixing valves work and where they should be piped with steel, cast iron, and copper tube style boilers to ensure that they automatically control the return water...

A return guest joins Greg and Dan during this Episode:  Cody Mack, Caleffi training and education manager.  They get right to the point as they dig into perplexing PRV behavior.  You'll learn: 1.  Got noise?  How to size a PRV CORRECTLY. 2.  Step down pressure and how to manage. 3.  PRV maintenance 4.  PRV configurations 5.  Familiar with 5 Things You Need To Know?  Check it out on YouTube! Thanks for joining us today.

Greg and Dan share commonly asked questions from the Ask Caleffi Blog.  During this episode, they will zero in on heating products and frequently asked questions.  You'll learn: → Can you install a 121 upside down? → What is the maximum flow rate of a thermostatic mixing valve? → What is the battery used for in an electronic mixing valve/control? → How do you clean a balancing valve? Watch for plumbing questions in the near future.  And... thanks for tuning in! Want to hear YOUR QUESTION...